Traditions and Beliefs

Atraditionis a practice, custom, orstorythat is memorized and passed belt d testify from generation to generation, originally with dis soaked the need for awriting system. Traditions argon genuinely much(prenominal)(prenominal) presumed to beancient, unalter equal to(p), and deeply important, though they may whatevertimes be much less natural than is presumed. Some traditions were deliberately invented for one reason or an some other, often to highlight or enhance the importance of a received institution. Traditions may withal be changed to suit the needs of the day, and the changes clear change by reversal accepted as a initiate of the ancient tradition.Folk Beliefs, other keep back a go at itn as Superstitious Beliefs, forms part of a muckles value systems and culture. They essentially reflect the customs, traditions, and more(prenominal)(prenominal)s of a group, which has been based on religious public opinions, opinions, or prevalent experienced practices. A lso they tell of how a people view the terra incognita and the Means to appease the gods that control the future. Filipinos still adhere to numerous widely-held menage beliefs that pee no scientific or logical basis except maybe backed-up by some past experiences (yet good deal be push aside as mere coincidence).Some are still practiced to this day primarily because of at that places nothing to lose if we comply attitude eyepatch the others are all ignored for it seemed downright ridiculous. A number of Filipinos mystify Folk Beliefs to the highest degree life, family, luck, wealth, etc. Some of which were presented by the four groups last Monday, April 26, 2010. I have noticed that close to all groups presented folk beliefs about courtship and marriage. cause is one that is still macrocosm practiced among the strictest of the Filipino families.This is performed by the virile (who is the suitor since it is wrong to do it the opposite way) visiting the home of the fe minine. In the olden days, courtship doesnt start until the male suitor had obtained permission from the parents. This was do with the male suitor being accompanied by another full elder and approaching either the father or the mother of the female and obtaining permissions days in advanced to visit at a special(prenominal) day and time. Nowadays this form of getting the parents permission is still being practiced in the provinces, however, due to western influences, there are ome variations more adaptable to the modern times. One alternative is to clear up a forebode call, asking for the parents or guardians permission through an elder to schedule a visit. Another way is for the suitor to approach the parents in a general place, and informally asking for permission to visit. Either way, it is to show proper approve to ask for permission prior to the formal visit. Properly greeting the parents by placing the back of the right hand of the parents to the suitors forehead is pra cticed to show respect. This is called pagmamano in Tagalog.When the permission has been granted, the suitor whether accompanied by a friend or an elder allow for visit the girlish womans home and offers gifts. Gift bags or boxes of goodies or Filipino snacks purchased from a local store and flowers are generally given. The snacks or other goods are offered to the family of the young woman because the flowers and special sweets (like chocolate or candies) are given to the girl. In a strict Filipino home, during courtship, the parents are present during the number 1 visit. This is the opportunity to get to know each other.This is sometimes called courting the parents archetypal and winning their hearts and approval and soce permit the boy or suitor court the girl. Subsequent visits are then scheduled if all went well during the first visit and, depending on how great the courtship pass on last the do is given by the girl with the parents knowledge as well. After the cour tship stage and the girl decides that she also would like to take the suitors offer of love and commitment, then the girl will give the favorable answer to the suitor. At times it takes months before the answer is given.In the olden days, strict parents would sometimes give a serial of tests, having the suitor do some chores like fetching some water system from the well, cutting firewood to be used for cooking dinner, helping the father of the girl do some yard or farm work. Nowadays, a more modern approach is being performed by the suitor whereby he offers gentlemanly help to the parents, sometimes carrying groceries as he sees them walking down the streets, religious offering them a ride if he happens to be driving their way, doing other favors that can help win their favor and better his chances of getting the girls love as well.After the girl announces to the parents that she is ready to be engaged the parents would be well-nigh to congratulate the suitor. From then on, the s uitor is treated like a division of the family. Sometimes, even before marriage, the suitor is introduced to the friends and relatives of the girls immediate family as future part of the family or future son-in-law. Engagements may take longer than a year, and then the date shall be set for marriage. During the waiting period they are part with to go on dates, at times with a chaperone.Nowadays, later on the first few chaperoned dates they can date on their own, peculiarly those who comprise in the cities where it is not as strict as in the rural areas of the country. When the dickens decides that they are ready to get married, then the pamamanhikan (official request of the male and his parents or guardians for the girls hand in marriage) begins. This is usually done in the evening after dinner. Then, if the parents of the girl agree, they will give them their blessings and set the date of the wedding. The engagement sometimes last from several months to a couple of years due to encompassing preparations.The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, exclusively some native traditions remain. Most have special sponsors who act as witnesses to the marriage. The virtuoso sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors care special parts of the ceremony, much(prenominal) as the candle, cord and shroud ceremonies. certificate of deposit sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a angiotensin-converting enzyme candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of rescuer in their married life.Veil sponsors place a white veil over the brides head and the grooms shoulders, a symbol of two people disguised as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight charmto symbolize everlasting fidelityover the shoulders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride 13 coins, or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wifes social welfare and the welfare of their future children. The four groups, as far as I can re penis, presented more beliefs and traditions about death, marriage, life and luck.These were The table should not be cleared while an unmarried woman is still eating because she readiness end up an old maid. Do not sweep your fib at night or else you are sweeping your luck out of the house. If one cuts his fingernails at night, a section of the family will die. One must(prenominal) not organize teams of 3 or 13, otherwise one member will die. Eating Pancit on their birthday will enable them to live longer. The use of the word Po or Opo means Yes in a truly polite manner. It is usually said by a young individual to an elder. Holding a family reunion to follow a birthday in the family, fiestas, for Christmas or New Years Celebration. One must be able to have handa during feast days. The first belief tells me that when you clear the tabl e while an unmarried woman is still eating, that woman will stay single(a) all her life. I still dont believe in such belief because I have met and seen single women getting married even if this clearing of tables while they ate happened to them. This is also my very first time to hear such belief. The second belief is one I heard when I was still very young.I was at my granddaddys house at Negros Oriental one summer. One night, there housemaid swept the floor and was scolded by my grandfathers child for doing such act. I wondered why and so I asked my parents about it. They, too, didnt know why sweeping floors during night was not allowed. Now, I know why. I still dont believe in such belief although luck in that house has gone in and out. I believe its just coincidental when someone sweeps during the night and then you become very unlucky in the future. The third belief is somehow coincidental for me when you cut your fingernails and someone in your family dies.I have also tr ied a lot of times already cutting my nails at night and I have also tried losing a member of my family already but I dont think it was because of what I did. I dont see any connection amid cutting fingernails during the night and death. With the fourth belief, I have heard this since I was in my grade school years. I still hear such until now. I usually go around with two of my very close friends. We always take pictures of ourselves yet not one of us has died, fortunately. I was told that whoever is in the middle will die first.It sounds pretty scary at first especially when I was still very young and innocent. However, as I grew up and hear such, it becomes lame to me and somehow funny because I have had lots of experience already with having two friends with me. The group presented this by three people who was about to take a picture of themselves and then their friend told them they shouldnt be three otherwise the one in the middle will die. And so they invited more people to join them so they wouldnt be three. The fifth belief tells me that eating Pancit will make your life longer.I always hear such especially during festivities and celebrations. On birthday celebrations, there is always pancit on the table because it is said that this will make you live longer on earth. They always govern pansit, pampahaba ng buhay. Im pretty sure it is such because pancit is long. We dont usually practice such tradition in our family. The sixth belief shows respect to the older people when you say Opo or Po. It is our tradition to say such. We also mano or kiss the right hand of an older person when we greet them. Actually, you dont receivedly kiss that hand.You just bow a bit, and lightly take the older persons right hand with your right hand, and move it towards your own forehead. Sometimes, its the back of their hand that touches your forehead. In our family, we practice such tradition as a sign of respect. When we got to our province in Negros and get to meet w ith the very many relatives of ours, we mano every older relative. Other relatives of ours especially my aunts and uncles who are in their late 20s and early 30s habitude let us mano them because they dont want to be old. The seventh and eight traditions have been practiced for years by almost all Filipinos.These happenings bring family members together especially those who are living apart or are working in different places and rarely have the chance or time to come home. The presence of family visitors and reuniting members delight the other members of the family, aside from stories and gossips to tell. And, if a visitor is a foreigner or a relative who comes from abroad, the family is very proud especially when the neighbors are around, and offers everything just to entertain the visitor. Once the visitor is gone, the family will either praise or sneer the visitor. Its mostly not the presence but the presents.We always watch over feast days by having handa and inviting peopl e to eat inside the house. In our family, we do the same during our villages fiesta. We invite friends, relatives and neighbors to dine and celebrate with us. Such tradition brings families and friends closer and patches up the times you missed together. With the very many traditions and beliefs of the Filipinos, I can say we only practice a few. Our family is not the type who believes in such beliefs. We only practice those traditions that are very common like celebrating festivities and occasions and giving of gifts during special days.I dont believe in these beliefs because they sound ridiculous for me but I respect them and the people who believe in them. We were not raise believing in folk beliefs because they are mere stories and doesnt have any connection with the real world. Sometimes, I wonder why people have made so many beliefs. Is it their way of scaring people especially beliefs about death and misfortune? I believe it is only you who can bring luck to yourself and it is not harmful to believe and practice such beliefs and traditions. I just learned that folk beliefs are not real and not practical and ones life must not always work around with beliefs.